Expansion Management

Chinese Manufacturer Chooses Former GM Plant for First US Facility

Jan. 10, 2014

Fuyao is the largest automotive glass supplier in China with 65% of the market and 18% of the global automotive glass market.

Adrienne Selko

In a complex deal, brokered by JobsOhio, Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co. Ltd. bought the former GM Moraine plant, located in Dayton, Ohio and comprised of over 1 million square feet, from its current owner Industrial Realty Group.

The company is investing $200 to build its first North American automotive glass manufacturing facility.

Ohio is very happy to see the plant working again as 800 employees will be hired over the next five years. “Ohio is thrilled by its new partnership with Fuyao. Chairman Cao has a bold, long-term vision for his company and it’s great that Moraine, Montgomery County and Ohio are part of it,” said Ohio Governor John R. Kasich.

The Governor of Ohio also pointed out that Cao won Ernst and Young’s 2009 World Entrepreneur of the Year Award and was named China’s most generous philanthropist four times by China’s Hurun Report.

Fuyao is the largest automotive glass supplier in China with 65% of the market and 18% of the global automotive glass market. The company currently has a presence in the U.S., Germany, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, and other countries as well.

“We appreciate Ohio's strategic location, workforce and pro-business environment in making this decision to open our North American facility,” said Cao Dewang, Chairman of Fuyao. “We are making such an investment in Moraine to better service our important OEM customers in the United States and North America.

The company, which is headquartered in Fuzhou, China and employs more than 18,000 workers globally , plans to use its new Moraine facility to supply its growing U.S. customer base, including GM, Chrysler, Hyundai, Honda and Kia.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.